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Shaken, not stirred! Join us as we count down our picks for the most enduring and entertaining examples of movies that feature elements of espionage or eavesdropping. Our countdown includes classic Hitchcock thrillers, gritty Cold War narratives, and modern spy blockbusters that have defined the genre. Which covert operation is your favorite?
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00:00Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we're counting down our picks for the most enduring and entertaining examples of movies that feature elements of espionage or eavesdropping within their narratives.
00:2120. Sneakers
00:30Whoever said that all movies involving spying needed to be grim, dour, or overtly violent?
00:4720. Sneakers from 1992 has a lot of fun with its premise of a security team hired to do a job, only to find out there's more going on beneath the surface.
00:5421. Anyway, I couldn't have you talking to the Russians. Five years ago, yes, we could trust them not to go running to the FBI, or if they did, we could trust the FBI not to believe them today. We can't trust anybody.
01:0821. Sneakers benefits from an all-star cast, including Robert Redford, Dan Aykroyd, Sidney Poitier, and Sir Ben Kingsley, in addition to a smart and witty script.
01:17This is a movie that's not out to reinvent the wheel, but instead works within established caper, crime, and spy parameters to bring the best out of all its famous faces.
01:26That's not important, is it? What's really important is that none of this ever happened. This box doesn't exist. I never saw it before.
01:3819. No Way Out
01:40Movie fans need to be paying attention when it comes to the intertwining plotlines of 1987's No Way Out.
01:57This is just one of the multiple movie adaptations of Kenneth Faring's 1947 novel, The Big Clock, a story that places a lot of balls and moving parts in the air when it comes to character thoughts and motivations.
02:08I'm going to save Bryce, no matter what it takes. I thought I already told you that.
02:11I don't believe there is a Yuri.
02:12Oh, he's real enough already.
02:13Yeah, but he doesn't have anything to do with the murder of that girl, does he?
02:16We'll find that out when we catch him.
02:17Not if those two get to him first, you won't.
02:19Damn it! I am tired of weakness. I am faced with a grave problem, and I intend to resolve it quickly and cleanly.
02:28The cast of No Way Out is uniformly excellent, and includes Kevin Costner, Gene Hackman, Sean Young, and even Cannibal Holocaust star Robert Kerman in a small role as a CID agent.
02:38It's a story of loyalty, deep cover, and a twist you almost certainly won't see coming.
02:43We thought that we never saw you anymore. I also thought that.
02:50Number 18. Argo.
02:52You're telling me that there is a movie company in Hollywood right now that is funded by the CIA?
02:57Yes, sir.
02:58Don't let the period-appropriate haircuts distract you from checking out 2012's Argo.
03:03Those that were actually involved in the real-life inspiration behind this film, a Canadian-slash-US collaborative rescue mission from 1979, have admitted that Argo plays a bit fast and loose with the facts.
03:13What I know is, we need to pretend to be a movie crew. We go to the bazaar today, we fly out from the airport tomorrow.
03:20We won't do it.
03:23He told them that there were six of us, so they're expecting six. It would be suspicious not to show up at this point.
03:30God damn it, guys. What else do we have to do, all right? What else? What's the alternative?
03:35Still, the overall vibe of the film is one that balances comedic beats with the actual drama of the plot at hand, utilizing the backdrop of a fake sci-fi film to act as a smokescreen for a daring hostage recovery.
03:47Argo is just fun to watch, regardless of how closely it resembles the original Canadian caper.
04:05Number 17. Three Days of the Condor
04:21There were two guys at my house.
04:23What were you doing there? You were told not to go there.
04:25I was homesick. Who were they?
04:27They were ours.
04:28What were they doing in my house?
04:30The inclusion of Robert Redford within the Marvel Cinematic Universe was no accident.
04:34The acting legend helped carve out his career in high-tension espionage efforts, such as Three Days of the Condor from 1975, movies that provided huge influences to Marvel's Captain America franchise.
04:46Redford's work in Condor proved to be particularly inspiring, primarily due to his character's status as a pencil pusher.
04:52What are you doing? It's him! It's him! Joe!
05:00Redford's Joe Turner is forced to push himself to the limits of acceptable behavior as he attempts to uncover the sinister motivations behind an internally executed murder conspiracy.
05:12It all comes together as Three Days of the Condor exudes 1970s cool from each and every pore.
05:19Who is Leonard Atwood?
05:30Where are you, Higgin?
05:37Ain't we pals anymore?
05:40Number 16. Bridge of Spies.
05:43Look at me. We are agents from the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
05:47Look at me. I'm talking to you. We've received information concerning your involvement in espionage.
05:54You can either cooperate with us right now, or you'll be under arrest. Do you understand, Colonel?
05:59The murderer's row of talent behind 2015's Bridge of Spies speaks for itself, really.
06:03Steven Spielberg directs a film starring Tom Hanks and featuring a screenplay by the Coen brothers, alongside Matt Charman.
06:10The end results are predictably excellent.
06:12You met him. Has he talked? Has he said anything yet?
06:17We're not having this conversation.
06:19No, of course not.
06:20Albeit more aligned with those that desire a more cerebral experience, rather than slam-bang shoot-em-up action.
06:27Bridge of Spies utilizes elements of traditional legal drama against the backdrop of Cold War tensions between the United States and the former Soviet Union.
06:35It's a story of people and countries, told in a way that feels satisfyingly Spielbergian, together with that intelligent Coen brothers charm.
06:54Number 15. Honor Majesty's Secret Service.
07:22It's the James Bond film that continues to evoke argument and conversation from just about every fan of this long-running super-spy franchise.
07:43Was George Lazenby a proper fit for 007? Maybe, maybe not.
07:47The proper time for this is our wedding night. And that's my New Year's resolution.
07:53We hope that even those that weren't convinced by Lazenby's performance can at least recognize how strong Honor Majesty's Secret Service was from a cinematic standpoint.
08:01The film included one of Bond's best and most capable female co-stars, with Diana Riggs Countess Tracy DiVincenzo, as well as perhaps the most sinister portrayal of Ernst Stavro Blofeld by Telly Savalas.
08:13Well, the methods of the Great Pioneers have often puzzled conventional minds.
08:17Oh, and that shocking final twist? Devastating stuff.
08:20It's alright. It's quite alright, really. She's having a rest.
08:27She's having a rest.
08:29Number 14. The Imitation Game
08:31Why do you wish to work for His Majesty's Government?
08:34Oh, I don't really.
08:37Are you a bleeding pacifist?
08:39I'm agnostic about violence.
08:42This is one of those important biopic movies that still feels somehow underseen, despite the Imitation Game being a critical and financial success back when it was released in 2014.
08:51Benedict Cumberbatch received rave reviews for his portrayal of Alan Turing, one of the 20th century's greatest scientific minds.
08:58If you speak a word of what I'm about to show you, you will be executed for high treason. You will lie to your friends, your family, and everyone you meet about what it is you really do.
09:10And what is it that we're really doing?
09:13We're going to break an unbreakable Nazi code and win the war.
09:17Oh.
09:18His life was one of professional highs and personal tragedies, since it was his work in cryptanalysis that allowed the Allied powers to gain substantial upper hands during the Second World War.
09:27Turing's personal life and sexuality were tragically used against him, however, making the telling of his story in the Imitation Game all the more important.
09:36I wish that Franklin D. Roosevelt had lived to see this day.
09:41Was I God? No.
09:43Because God didn't win the war.
09:47We did.
09:49Number 13. The Ipcris File
09:51There were few actors that could keep up with the cool factor that Sir Michael Caine exuded in films, such as the original Get Carter.
10:06This was apparent even as far back as 1965's The Ipcris File.
10:10Caine's secret agent, Harry Palmer, is certainly as handsome, debonair, and charming as any iteration of James Bond.
10:17Yet, The Ipcris File never forgets to lean hard into the dangers of spy work.
10:21Now listen to me.
10:22Listen to me.
10:23Listen to me.
10:24Shoot.
10:25Ross.
10:26Shoot.
10:27The traitor.
10:28Now.
10:29This is a film that possesses thrilling action and dark, downbeat plot turns, while also keeping the excitement of a proper spy picture in check.
10:52There's a reason, after all, why Michael Caine is a legend today, and it's thanks to outstanding performances, such as the one here in the Ipcris File.
11:00You used me as a decoy.
11:03I might have been killed or driven stark raving mad.
11:08That's what you paid for.
11:11Number 12. Notorious
11:14Alfred Hitchcock was already deep into his directorial career back when he helmed Notorious in 1946.
11:33The film predates Hitch's horror period, but retains the maestro's penchant for deep character studies and captivating cinematic style.
11:40Do you want me to take the job?
11:44You're answering for yourself.
11:46I am asking you.
11:48It's up to you.
11:50Not at people.
11:53Notorious features a trifecta of acting legends, too, as Claude Rains, Cary Grant, and Ingrid Bergman dazzle us up on that silver screen.
12:02Rains and Grant portray two men that are in love with the same woman, all told amid a backdrop of international espionage, deceit, and intrigue.
12:10I watched you.
12:12I thought maybe you were in love with him.
12:15Don't talk like that, I detest him.
12:17Really?
12:18Notorious is definitely worth a watch not only for spy movie fans, but also those who want to experience all the colors of Hitchcock's cinematic rainbow.
12:26Hold on, Donnie.
12:27You've only got about 20 hours to go.
12:29What happened, Alex?
12:30Huh?
12:31Oh.
12:32Um.
12:33She collapsed.
12:34Number 11.
12:35Mission Impossible Fallout.
12:36We gotta talk.
12:37Need to rethink this.
12:38Out of my way, Hunt.
12:39Walker, we got a problem.
12:40There's a storm and we need to-
12:41Enough talk.
12:42I'll see you in Paris.
12:43It's crazy to think of how the Mission Impossible franchise has thrived through multiple directors, screenwriters, and styles.
13:10Each bringing a unique flavor to this continuation of the OGTV series from 1966.
13:15Mission Impossible Fallout falls nicely in the footsteps of Ghost Protocol from 2011.
13:20In that it continues pushing the franchise forward in terms of stakes and execution.
13:25The stunt work here feels crazier, the plot lines more complex, and the execution exceeding the expectations of most summer blockbusters.
13:47Consider Mission Impossible Fallout to be yet another worthy entry in this increasingly impressive series.
14:02Number 10.
14:03The Lives of Others.
14:04How do we live with ourselves and our actions during times of conflict and stress?
14:24The Lives of Others is one film that asks these questions.
14:27A German film that's set prior to the fall of the Berlin Wall.
14:30Director Florian Henkel von Donnersmark and his crew were praised for their attention to detail,
14:35as the lives of others documents the covert spying of East German citizens by the Stasi secret police that were set in power during this era.
14:42The film remains relevant today as well, since so much of our private and personal data seems to be compromised on a daily basis, currency for those in power to apparently use as they see fit.
15:04Number 9.
15:20The Hunt for Red October.
15:22It is an honor to speak to you today, and I am honored to be sailing with you on the maiden voyage of our motherland's most recent achievement.
15:31And once more, we play our dangerous game.
15:35A game of chess against our old adversary, the American Navy.
15:41The character of Jack Ryan is one that continues to fascinate avid readers and moviegoers, decades after author Tom Clancy first introduced him to the masses.
15:50The Hunt for Red October served as the first cinematic outing for Ryan, here portrayed by Alec Baldwin.
15:55We need to devise a plan to intercede, ready to go at a moment's notice.
16:00And third, somebody's gotta go out there and make contact with Ramius and find out what his intentions really are.
16:06The casting of Sir Sean Connery opposite Baldwin is an inspired one, making for a heavyweight foil for which Ryan to prove his mettle.
16:13The end results are bolstered by an outstanding score from Basil Polidorus.
16:28The Hunt for Red October manages to be both thrilling and intellectually compelling from first scene to last.
16:34Welcome to the new world, sir.
16:41Number 8. Skyfall.
16:43Take the shot.
16:46I said take the shot.
16:49I can't, I may hit Bond.
16:51Take the bloody shot.
16:53The Daniel Craig era of James Bond contains more than its fair share of bangers, including Craig's Casino Royale debut from 2006.
17:03However, many fans of the 007 franchise point to 2012's Skyfall as not only a high point for Craig, but for the Bond series as a whole.
17:11Just look at you, barely held together by your pills and your drink.
17:16Don't forget my pathetic love of country.
17:18It's difficult to argue with these people too, since Skyfall boasts perhaps the most memorable villain from Craig's tenure with Javier Bardem's Raul Silva.
17:26Meanwhile, the fantastic opening theme from Adele and the exciting cinematography lends Skyfall a breathtaking amount of thrills and suspense.
17:34Number 7. The Manchurian Candidate.
17:54You've got it all figured out, haven't you?
17:57Johnny Islund's boy, Medal of Honor winner, that should get you another 50,000 votes.
18:01Raymond, I'm your mother. How can you talk to me this way?
18:04You know I want nothing for myself. You know that my entire life is devoted to helping you.
18:08Those out there who know Angela Lansbury solely from her classic role of Jessica Fletcher on TV's Murder, She Wrote,
18:14will be well advised to check out this chilling performance from 1962's The Manchurian Candidate.
18:19Lansbury joins an outstanding ensemble cast that includes Frank Sinatra, Janet Leigh, Lawrence Harvey, and Henry Silva.
18:26I'll never suffer again. God knows better. I'm not lovable.
18:35As the Manchurian Candidate executes its dark, Cold War-era plot, mind control conspiracies and international domination are all on the table here,
18:44as Sinatra's character attempts to uncover the truth behind a captured US veteran who just may be the unwitting pawn in a game of global chess.
18:51Number 6, Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy.
19:04I'm retired, Oliver. You fired me. The thing is, some time ago before Control died, he came to me with a similar suggestion. That there is a mole. He never mentioned his suspicions to you? No.
19:29The catalogue of works by David John Moore Cornwell, aka John Le Carr, has served as the basis for many of the spy genre's all-time greatest pictures.
19:37Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy is one of those films, a stunning example of how one doesn't necessarily have to sacrifice realism or intelligence to execute a compelling narrative.
19:47I've never said a word. Not one word.
19:57Director Thomas Alfredson leads an enviable cast of stars, including Gary Oldman, Benedict Cumberbatch, Tom Hardy, Colin Firth, and Toby Jones.
20:07They're all game for the task of adapting Le Carr's Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy to the big screen, and they succeed in a major way.
20:14Number 5, The Spy Who Came In From The Cold.
20:30We have to live without sympathy, don't we? We can't do that forever. One can't stay outdoors all the time. One needs to come in. In from the cold.
20:40The spy movie boom of the 1960s was already in full swing by the time The Spy Who Came In From The Cold arrived around the middle of that decade.
20:47Still, the swinging adventures of Mr. James Bond feel comparatively absent from this hard-edged adaptation of John Le Carr's best-selling novel.
20:55Sir Richard Burton delivers an excellent performance of an MI6 agent that's tasked with posing as a British defector.
21:01What rules are you playing?
21:03There's only one rule. Expediency.
21:06Mundt gives London what it needs, so Fiedler dies and Mundt lives. It was a foul, foul operation, but it paid off.
21:12Who for?
21:13What the hell do you think spies are? Moral philosophers measuring everything they do against the word of God or Karl Marx?
21:20While operating in East Germany during the Cold War, this is a film that isn't about dazzling love interests or wildly imaginative gadgets, but instead highlights the shadowy alleyways and smoky conference rooms of real-world international espionage.
21:34The hearing is closed. The tribunal will make its report to the presidium. Comrade Mundt is reinstated. The man Lemus and the girl are under arrest.
21:47Number 4. The Bourne Identity
21:50What's your name? What's your name? I don't know. Oh God.
22:00Moviegoers back during the early 2000s received a new silver screen super spy in the form of Jason Bourne.
22:06This character was initially made famous thanks to a popular series of books from author Richard Ludlum, with the Bourne Identity adapting Ludlum's novel from 1980.
22:14He's following a protocol. Now that he's completed the mission, we think he'll come back in. They always do.
22:23That decade's stylistic trappings don't really come into play here within the film, however, since the Bourne Identity instead chooses to update its setting for a new millennium.
22:31This decision proved to be a successful one, since the Bourne Identity was successful enough to spawn a franchise, including another fan favorite, the Bourne Ultimatum from 2007.
22:40Number 3. From Russia With Love
22:55It's time for a tale of two Bonds. Do we go with Goldfinger from 1964, which arguably codified many of the stylistic trappings we usually associate with 007?
23:04Or do we choose 1963's From Russia With Love, a picture that still retained much of Bond's gritty realism?
23:10As if I didn't have enough problems.
23:12We have to admit that we're suckers for the more sinister side of Bond, as this suave secret agent coldly calculates the deaths of his enemies at the end of a gun barrel.
23:20From Russia With Love also boasts a great theme song for Matt Monroe, as well as a heavy-duty antagonist in the form of Robert Shaw's Spectre assassin, Donald Grant.
23:29What is your plan?
23:31Explain it better on a map. All right?
23:35It's one of the James Bond movies we rewatch on the regular.
23:40From Russia With Love
23:43He was right, you know.
23:45What is it?
23:46I'll show you.
23:48Number 2. The Conversation
23:51Get him for Christmas yet. He's already got everything.
23:55He doesn't need anything more.
23:57Well, I haven't decided what I'm gonna get you yet.
24:02Are you gonna start looking though?
24:04What about me?
24:06It's not only one of the greatest films ever from the fertile creative mind of Francis Ford Coppola.
24:11The Conversation is also one of the greatest films from the entire 1970s, a decade that was practically overflowing with innovative ideas.
24:19Coppola's script tackles the business of eavesdropping, specifically the feelings of guilt and paranoia present within those who handle this sort of thing at an extremely high level.
24:28Gene Hackman's performance is one of tension, anxiety, and stress. A tragic character who performs his duties at an elite level for a shadowy backer. But at what cost? The conversation doesn't have any easy answers, but it practically begs for you to join it in asking the question.
24:56Before we continue, be sure to subscribe to our channel and ring the bell to get notified about our latest videos. You have the option to be notified for occasional videos or all of them. If you're on your phone, make sure you go into your settings and switch on notifications.
25:23Number 1. North by Northwest
25:28This 1959 masterpiece from Alfred Hitchcock may not have been the first time the legendary director took on a tale of a man trying to clear his name. The 39 Steps from 1935 served as another excellent example of this sort of story. It could be argued that Hitch struck perfection with North by Northwest however, particularly with his casting of Cary Grant in the lead role.
25:30The 39 Steps from 1935
25:31The 39 Steps from 1935 served as another excellent example of this sort of story.
25:37It could be argued that Hitch struck perfection with North by Northwest however, particularly with his casting of Cary Grant in the lead role.
25:43Cary Grant manages to be both movie star cool and believably average as he portrays Roger Hitchcock as the character of the character.
25:50Cary Grant's character who has been mistaken for Roger Thornhill who has been mistaken for an agent that doesn't even exist, George Caplan.
25:52Cary Grant manages to be both movie star cool and believably average as he portrays Roger Thornhill who has been mistaken for an agent that doesn't even exist, George Caplan.
25:56Cary Grant manages to be both movie star cool and believably average as he portrays Roger Thornhill who has been mistaken for an agent that doesn't even exist, George Caplan.
26:17The film features scenes that exist within the annals of film history, but trust us when we say that North by Northwest remains worthy of its praise.
26:37What's your go-to era for on-screen espionage? Let us know in the comments.
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